Career civil servant Judith Hall-Bean was yesterday named as Bermuda's first female Director of Tourism.

Mrs. Hall-Bean, who has been Acting Director since last October, took over from Richard Calderon, who resigned last autumn.

A former Director of Personnel Services, and secretary to the Bermuda Public Service Commission, Mrs. Hall-Bean has been a civil servant for 37 years.

Tourism Minister David Allen, announcing the appointment at a press conference yesterday, said: "Mrs. Hall-Bean will occupy a place in history as the first woman to serve as Director of Tourism, a position that occupies the same rank as Permanent Secretary.

"I am particularly pleased to welcome her on board. Not only her administrative skills, but her people skills, her interpersonal relations, have already been serving us in good stead."

Mrs. Hall-Bean said her top priority would be developing a summer programme to help revitalise the business.

She said: "I am happy, excited and pleased to have achieved this promotion in my career in the civil service.

"I am looking forward to working in a very important Ministry and an industry that is trying to reel itself back after the events of 9-11."

Mrs. Hall-Bean said the post was advertised and that she beat several other candidates to get the job.